How To Keep Fit Without A Gym Membership

Written by

Cara Bradley

7 min read

Updated: 13 February 2025

A report released in December 2024 predicted that 27% of new UK-based gym-goers will have given up on their membership by March 2025, while 18% are likely to throw in the towel in January and February.
The report further revealed that those who had previously quit the gym didn’t cancel their membership until up to a year later and it’s estimated that UK residents will waste £503 million on unused memberships in 2025.
Given that the average monthly cost of a membership is £47.24, quitting the gym while still paying for it for 12 months could cost you up to £566.88.

If you’re certain that you’re not going to go back to the gym for the foreseeable future, then you may wish to consider cancelling your membership.
You might be tempted to keep your membership active out of shame or guilt, but remember, it’s okay to hold your hands up and admit that it hasn’t been for you. You could re-register further down the line, but if the gym isn’t working for you, you might choose to put the money you’d spend on your membership towards finding a sport that does appeal to you.

If you’ve fallen out of love with the gym, there are other, cost-effective options to think about.

1. In it for the long run

Running is a blissfully free hobby, providing you already own a decent pair of sports trainers.
If you’re running alone, remember to always tell someone where you’re going, how far you plan to run, and how long you think you’ll be. Runners are renowned for suddenly turning a ‘quick 5k’ into a 10-miler, so remember to quickly pull over and update your loved ones!

If you’d rather run in company, you might consider registering with parkrun. Every Saturday morning, parkrun hosts a free, timed 5k event in an array of locations up and down the UK (and beyond!). There’s a real sense of community at parkrun, where everyone, from PB chasers to leisurely dog walkers, is welcome.

2. Look into buying your own equipment

As mentioned, the average annual cost of a gym membership is £566.88.
If a lack of motivation to get out of the door is stopping you from fulfilling your membership fees, why not bring the gym to you instead? If you have space in your house, you could do some research into purchasing your own equipment.
Work out whether buying a few, decent pieces of the equipment you use the most could be a cost-effective swap. The good news? If you look after and maintain your equipment, it could outlast the cost of an annual gym membership, saving you money in the long run.
Shops such as Sports Direct, Decathlon, and Argos could be good places to start when looking for affordable gym staples, such as weights, kettlebells, and treadmills.

3. Try an online workout class

Whether you’re a yoga lover, a Pilates convert, a Zumba enthusiast, or a fan of a good high-intensity interval (HIIT) workout, you’re guaranteed to find an online class to suit you – for free!
As many of us discovered during the COVID-19 lockdowns, YouTube is full of different types of free exercise tutorials.
You don’t need any fancy, pricey equipment or gear to take part in online classes – just a decent space in the comfort of your own home.

Exercise doesn’t have to be laborious or even endured alone. Why not invite friends round for a cheap and cheerful Saturday morning YouTube yoga or HIIT session?

4. Check out Our Parks

Operating across the UK and originally inspired by the London Olympics, Our Parks is an organisation founded by fitness coach Born Barikor.

The Our Parks website states the following ethos: “…the purpose of ensuring that easy, barrier-free access to quality exercise is available to everyone, uniting our communities.”

Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to access free, one-hour sessions at your local Our Parks site, as well as 30-minute live workout sessions. In-person classes run weekly throughout the year, with a two-week break over Christmas.
Classes include Box Fit, circuit, yoga, HIIT, stretching, and bootcamp, and upcoming sessions can be booked here.
You can find your local Our Parks location here.

5. Move your feet

Hands up how many of us are guilty of jumping in the car for even the shortest of journeys, purely out of convenience and habit?
A two-minute drive to the corner shop could be taken on foot, providing you don’t need to carry heavy bags of groceries, and if it’s a nice day, why not walk the kids home from school rather than picking them up in the car?
Pledge to substitute the car for your own two feet as often as you can. This simple swap will not only benefit your health but also the environment, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly you get used to it.

Don’t forget, activities like walking the dog, running around the park with your children, dancing at a concert, and shopping in town all count as exercise, and what’s more, they’re all fantastically free! Keeping fit needn’t break the bank or feel like a chore – sometimes, we can get our daily steps in without even realising.

6. Get creative

When it comes to keeping fit, getting creative could help to cut the costs.
There are many ways to incorporate healthy habits into your everyday lifestyle.

• Why not see how many star jumps you can do during the advert breaks of your favourite TV show?
• Jog on the spot while watching TV.
• Tea in the oven? Pledge to run up and down the stairs for as long as you can while your food cooks.
• Choose to take the stairs, rather than waiting for the lift.

Don’t sweat it

If the gym hasn’t worked out for you this time, it’s important not to beat yourself up.
The gym isn’t for everyone, and as our blog has revealed, there are plenty of other ways to keep fit, whatever your budget. It’s all about finding what works best for you, your lifestyle, and your wallet.

The information contained in this article is meant as a general guide and does not constitute nor should be taken as advice. 
February 2025.